Women's plays hit North County theaters

After the enormous success of her play "The Vagina Monologues"
in 1997, Eve Ensler wanted to give back to the community. So the
following year, she created "V-Day," a program where groups in
cities all over the world could perform her play on, or around
Valentine's Day, without paying any royalties, so that all proceeds
could benefit women's groups in those communities.

Wickedly funny and surprisingly frank, "The Vagina Monologues"
is a 90-minute series of comic and dramatic monologues delivered by
actresses seated on stools on a bare stage. Ensler wrote the play
in the early 1990s after interviewing more than 200 women, ages 6
to 90, about their vaginas. Their answers were compiled and
rewritten in very funny fashion into "The Vagina Monologues."

The play deals humorously with feminine issues such as sexual
awakening, late-life self-discovery and self-esteem, but it also
tackles tough topics, such as rape, sexual abuse and female genital
mutilation. Ensler's goal for creating V-Day was to raise money to
stop violence against women and girls, and to date the program has
raised more than $25 million for women's programs.

This weekend, more than 35 North County women will take part in
benefit performances of "The Vagina Monologues" at the Carlsbad
Village Theatre. Sponsored by the North County African American
Women's Association, performances will be presented at 8 p.m. March
3-4 at 2822 State St. in Carlsbad. Proceeds from the readings will
benefit the association's educational scholarship fund and the
Women's Resource Center.

The women coming together to read "The Vagina Monologues" come
from all walks of life. One of them was a victim of violence
herself, at the age of 13. Rachel Robinson wrote a book about her
ordeal, "Without My Mother's Love," and she has produced an
award-winning documentary on the subject, "Motherless Child."

"The Vagina Monologues" readings were very successful the last
time they were presented by the North County African American
Women's Association, and the group is hopeful that this weekend's
performances will draw strong audiences once again.

"It was completely sold out the last year we presented the play
and there continues to be great interest and excitement about this
year's production," said association spokeswoman Vivan Williams.
"We welcome everyone, but ticket sales are brisk so we encourage
people who are interested in attending to purchase their tickets as
soon as possible."

The production is directed by Marylou Gombar, formerly of
MiraCosta College.

Tickets to "The Vagina Monologues" are $15 and advance
reservations are recommended. Call (760) 754-9991 or (760) 967-9228
for information or visit www.ncaawa.org.

While we're on the subject of theater for women, the 50-city
tour of "Menopause, the Musical: Out Loud" will arrive later this
month in Escondido.

The broad comedy is the story of four middle-aged women who meet
at a New York City Bloomingdale's lingerie sale and bond over their
shared experiences with menopause -- including hot flashes, night
sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges, declining (or increased) sex
drive, plastic surgery and more. The show's musical score features
parodies of 25 pop songs from the '60s and '70s. The Bee Gees'
disco hit "Staying Alive," for example, becomes "Staying Awake";
"Heat Wave" becomes "Hot Flash"; and "I Heard It Through the
Grapevine" morphs into "You No Longer See 39."

"Menopause, the Musical: Out Loud" will be presented at 7:30
p.m. March 21 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The
national tour launched in September of last year to raise awareness
about breast and ovarian cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the
Escondido performance will benefit the San Diego chapter of the
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

"We were thrilled to hear this tour was coming to San Diego and
our organization would be a beneficiary. We hope to sell out the
show," said district president Lyla Altevers. "Women need to be
aware of the symptoms and communicate concerns to their physicians.
With no test for early detection it is crucial to be in tune with
our bodies. Most of all, we want everyone to enjoy the evening and
know they are helping others by attending."

Tickets are $45 to $50 and have been selling briskly. For
tickets, call the arts center at (800) 988-4253.

Love will be in the air Sunday for Patio Playhouse's spring
fundraiser.

The Escondido community theater will present "Love Is in the
Air," a musical revue of love songs performed by perennial Patio
performers, including April Boatman, Julia Bonnici, Mary Bright,
Richard Brousil, Jim Clevenger, David Garstang, Lori Tinkle and
Brian Weissman.

The benefit performance at 7 p.m. March 5 is directed by Deborah
Zimmer and features the musical ensemble of Emily Awkerman, David
Farlow and Dan Townsend.

Tickets are $15, with all proceeds benefiting Patio's play
season. Patio is at 201 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Call (760)
746-6669 for reservations.

The spring youth production at the Theatre School@ North Coast
Repertory Theatre is a bit different this year.

The student actors will be performing in a new production of the
children's fable "Rumplestiltskin" that was written and directed by
Joe Powers, director of the theater school and education program at
North Coast Rep in Solana Beach.

Powers said that the production that opens tonight has a fun,
fairy tale story for toddlers and a more serious message
underneath.

"A small child may only see the surface, and muse at the antics
of the fun and funny characters. The older child and adult can
extract universal themes," Powers said. " 'Rumplestiltskin' deals
with the consequences of not telling the truth, including
consequences of wanting things without working honestly for
them."

Powers has directed the theater school and education program at
North Coast Rep since 1997. A few months ago, he was honored by the
Soroptimist International of Rancho Bernardo as an "2006 Honoree of
Distinction" for his efforts, particularly in developing the Behind
the Mask program, which provides drama classes to foster children
in group homes.

"Joe has recognized and developed talents and confidence in
hundreds of young people through his work as director, teacher, and
director of the programs that take drama into schools or group
homes. As a result, young audiences are falling in love with
theater. We're proud his talents are being recognized," said Libba
Jackson-D'Ambrosi, who chairs North Coast Rep's education
committee.

"Rumplestiltskin" will feature a cast of 18 young actors and one
adult -- Marty Burnett, North Coast Rep's resident set designer,
who will play the role of the king. Performances are at 7 p.m.
March 2-5 and at 2 p.m. March 5 at the theater, 987-D Lomas Santa
Fe Drive in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for
students. Call (858) 481-1055 for reservations.

In my review of San Diego Opera's "Lucia di Lammermoor" last
week, I credited the wrong flutist for the lovely solos in the
opera's mad scene. The soloist who soprano Angela Gilbert
gratefully acknowledged in the pit was actually acting principal
flutist Clay Ellerbroeck.